Posted on 05/01/2009 3:59:25 PM PDT by jazusamo
Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. replacing Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland at Camp Pendleton later this year
CAMP PENDLETON ---- A former Camp Pendleton 1st Marine Division officer has been nominated by President Barack Obama to head the base's I Marine Expeditionary Force and also serve as commander of Marine Corps forces throughout the Middle East.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Friday that Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. to replace Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland later this year.
The change is among several coming to Camp Pendleton's top leadership this year.
Dunford is currently serving as the vice director for operations at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington.
In his new role, Dunford will be "dual-hatted," overseeing the 40,000 Marines and sailors that make up the I Marine Expeditionary Force and as commander of Marine Corps Forces, Central Command. The latter duty gives him the responsibility of overseeing leatherneck forces serving throughout the Middle East.
Helland has had those two roles since November 2007 when he replaced then-Lt.Gen. and now Gen. James Mattis. Like Mattis and Helland, Dunford's new duties also make him convening authority over prosecutions of Marines and sailors accused of criminal wrongdoing.
Camp Pendleton's Maj. Gen. John Kelly said Dunford brings a wealth of combat experience to his new post.
"He is well-versed in our ongoing initiatives and uniquely qualified to assume the lead of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force," Kelly said in a written statement to the North County Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
Thanks for the ping, though. ;*)
Never seem to have that problem.
HEY! I heard that a black man would be Prezident when pigs could fly, and LOOK, Swine Flu!
Interesting that it says Helland may retire. Shouldn’t be too much of a stretch, if that is the case, to drop the Wuterich case. Wouldn’t be any skin off his ***, unless he just didn’t have any to begin with.
Yes, but he also said he’s open to accepting a new appointment if asked. Hint, hint.
I know a guy who is looking for someone to help him shine shoes. Former military general should be perfect for that. I mean, he is used to spending time on his knees.
Ditto here - for now!
Why do I have this feeling that somewhere out there they are commissioning a Second Lieutenant that will finally end this case when he becomes a general.......
Your feeling could prove to be not far off and justice delayed is justice denied.
Hi, Red, doesn’t it though?
This thing stinks worse and worse as each day passes.
Just seems like the government can’t let go of this thing. At this rate, we’re be no closer to a resolution by the end of the year.
Thanks for the ping. I wonder how many combat veterans who were charged with crimes resulting from battlefield decisions have had their prosecutions dragged out through THREE different convening authorities? I bet it has never
happened before.
...And it’s just another testament to the disgrace of the whole stinking farce.
I am NOT counting on the new guy having any more guts than the last two guys.
Been reading up on this new guy. While he does have 22 months experience in Iraq, I think he will be the same as the others. It has become tradition for a CG to sit on his butt and do nothing to end this debacle, and hey, why break with tradition?
Eighteen Americans killed in Iraq in April
The Iraqi and the U.S. militaries also have faced new hurdles as Iraqi officials grow more assertive about enforcing a security agreement that regulates the conduct of American troops in the field.
Iraq also has not yielded to American requests to allow access to a captured militant Iraqi authorities claim is the head of Iraq's main al-Qaida front group, Perkins said.
Authorities described Abu Omar al-Baghdadi's capture last week as a major setback for Sunni insurgents trying to intensify attacks after a relative lull. But the U.S. military has questioned his existence in the past.
"The detainee that the Iraqis are calling al-Baghdadi is in the custody of the Iraqi security forces, and we have not had any access to him," Perkins said. "We are in discussions with the Iraqis to determine how we can confirm or deny who he is."
In the past, the U.S. military has been the one to detain and announce high-profile detainees who are captured or killed, such as the 2006 death of the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
WTH agreement did Gates sign on to?
Hopefully General Helland will have the case dropped against Sgt Wuterich since he has nothing to lose in the deal.
Maybe they aren't phrasing the question correctly.
"Who's your Baghdadi?" may seem like a rhetorical question.
But you are right, boats. The Iraqi's don't want us to leave, but they don't want us to do anything either. Crappy deal, IMO.
Sadly, I guess it’s no surprise. Gates is doing the bidding for Obambi and 0 has made it very clear he wants us out.
Maliki and every other Iraqi are going to do exactly as they please because they know this only too well, Zer0 has already cost American lives!
I have to agree with you, bhf, no changes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.